Anteaters polish their skills

As they do every summer, members of the UC Irvine baseball program scattered across North America to play in summer collegiate leagues with hopes of improving their skills.

This season, they had tales of Omaha and the College World Series, in addition to their talents, to share with their summer teammates.

But among the Anteaters who fared the best in summer competition, most often including wooden bats, was one who didn’t play an inning of the momentous 2007 campaign.

Ryan Fisher, who redshirted last season after arriving from East Union High, showed he may be ready to replace first-team All-Big West Conference second baseman Cody Cipriano, one of eight Anteaters who were drafted and signed by Major League organizations in June.

Fisher, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound second baseman, hit .412 in 28 games for the San Luis Obispo Blues to earn first-team All-California Collegiate League laurels. Fisher’s average, second best in the league, included 40 hits in 97 at-bats, with three home runs and 23 RBIs. He also had eight doubles and posted a .608 slugging percentage.

Joining Fisher in San Luis Obispo was Jeff Cusick, who hit .344 (33 for 96) with 19 RBIs for the Blues. Cusick returns as a sophomore first baseman and designated hitter after platooning with fellow freshman Sean Madigan last season.

Four Anteaters competed in the prestigious Cape Cod League, with Bryce Stowell, who sat out last season after transferring from Pepperdine, posting the best statistical campaign. Stowell, who will be a sophomore, had 44 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings for the Hyannis (Mass.) Mets. The right-hander was 1-5 with a 3.72 earned-run average, appearing in eight games, seven of which were starts.

Center fielder Ollie Linton, a second-team All-Big West performer as a redshirt sophomore in 2007, hit .271 with 10 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 29 games for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod League.

Pitcher Cory Hamilton, who will be a sophomore in 2008, threw 15 2/3 innings for the Brewster Whitecaps on the Cape. He was 0-1 with a 7.47 ERA. He allowed 23 hits, walked nine and struck out 15, making all but one of his 13 appearances in relief.

UCI’s contingent on the Cape was rounded out by catcher Francis Larson, who will be a sophomore in 2008. He was just two for 29 in 11 games for Hyannis.

Christian Bergman, who as a freshman started the Anteaters’ final game in Omaha, a 7-1 setback to eventual repeat champion Oregon State, posted a solid summer in the Alaska League.

Bergman, a 6-1 right-hander, recorded a 2.39 ERA, second best in the league, despite going 1-5 for the Anchorage Bucs. Bergman was third in the league in innings pitched (37 2/3 ), in which he allowed 35 hits, walked 12 and fanned 19. All six of his appearances were starts.

Madigan, named to the Ping All-Freshman Team in 2007, was one of six Anteaters who competed in the Northwoods League. Playing outfield for the Battle Creek (Mich.) Bombers — an indication he may leave first base to Cusick next season while helping replace departed corner outfielders Matt Morris and Bryan Petersen — he hit .278 (40 for 144) with 19 RBIs in 39 games. He was also seven for eight in stolen-base attempts.

Tony Asaro, a sophomore first baseman/designated hitter last season, hit .259 for the Bombers, including three homers and 16 RBIs in 85 at-bats.

Shortstop Ben Orloff, a second-team all-conference performer as a sophomore last season, hit .241 in 36 games (32 for 133) with the Brainerd (Minn.) Blue Thunder of the Northwoods League.

Dillon Bell, a freshman outfielder last season, hit .233 in 146 at-bats for the Green Bay Bullfrogs of the same league. He produced three homers and 24 RBIs.

Yet another Northwoods League competitor was Eric Pettis, who became the ‘Eaters’ Sunday starter as a freshman last season. Pettis was 2-2 with a 1.88 ERA in six starts for the Battle Creek ballclub. He struck out 20 and walked 17 in 43 innings.

Sammy Donabedian, a catcher whose first two seasons at UCI have been shortened by injuries, hit .217 in 20 games for Battle Creek. He had 13 hits and four RBIs.

A pair of UCI pitchers had impressive showings in the West Coast Collegiate League. Daniel Bibona, a freshman left-hander in 2007, was 2-2 with one save and a 2.19 ERA in seven games (three starts) for the Corvallis (Ore.) Knights. In 24 2/3 innings, Bibona allowed just 18 hits. He had 31 strikeouts and 12 walks.

In the same league, Chris Lopez, who will be a senior right-hander for Coach Dave Serrano’s squad next season, was 3-1 with an 0.91 ERA for the Kelowna (British Columbia, Canada) Falcons. He fanned 29 in 29 2/3 innings, allowing just 20 hits and walking eight. All but one of his 11 appearances were out of the bullpen.

Luis Tovar, a reserve infielder as a redshirt freshman in 2007, hit .259 with four RBIs in nine games, eight starts, for the San Luis Obispo Blues.

Nick Farinucci, a freshman last season, hit .175 in 20 games for the Winchester (Va.) Royals of the Valley Baseball League. He produced five RBIs with just seven hits.

Reid Suitor, a freshman pitcher in 2007, threw six innings for the Dupage Dragons of the Central Illinois Collegiate League. He was 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA.

Nick Baligod, who will be a sophomore outfielder this season, played for the Solana Mudcats but statistics were not available.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.